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The Duzy House of Mourning
THE DUZY HOUSE OF MOURNING is the compelling story of a young woman who survived an unthinkable accident the night she was born, an accident that claimed the life of her father, and forever altered her mother who sustained a traumatic brain injury.
The book opens 22 years later. January Duzinski has been raised by her Polish paternal grandparents and works as an embalmer in their mortuary. She’s a bit of an introvert, completely comfortable with the dead, completely brilliant (like her mother was) at the piano. And she has a very conflicted relationship with her non-verbal, disabled mother, Claire. But January’s life is about to veer off its course with the arrival of one Oscar Thibodeau—attorney for her maternal grandmother, Rose Winston, a woman January has never met, a woman who is suddenly deceased. It seems there is a Steinway concert grand piano up for grabs…and anything else that might interest January. Thus begins January’s reluctant journey into the incredible life of her mother. Through Claire’s diaries January is introduced to a strong, savvy, confident, enormously talented girl who disinherited herself from the wealth and trappings of a life she did not want. January is also made privy to a firsthand account of her parents’ love story, and the price Claire paid to be with her Polish undertaker. For the first time, January meets the father she has only known through her Duzinski grandparents. What emerges is a deeper, more poignant understanding of the very complex What does love really look like?
The book opens 22 years later. January Duzinski has been raised by her Polish paternal grandparents and works as an embalmer in their mortuary. She’s a bit of an introvert, completely comfortable with the dead, completely brilliant (like her mother was) at the piano. And she has a very conflicted relationship with her non-verbal, disabled mother, Claire. But January’s life is about to veer off its course with the arrival of one Oscar Thibodeau—attorney for her maternal grandmother, Rose Winston, a woman January has never met, a woman who is suddenly deceased. It seems there is a Steinway concert grand piano up for grabs…and anything else that might interest January. Thus begins January’s reluctant journey into the incredible life of her mother. Through Claire’s diaries January is introduced to a strong, savvy, confident, enormously talented girl who disinherited herself from the wealth and trappings of a life she did not want. January is also made privy to a firsthand account of her parents’ love story, and the price Claire paid to be with her Polish undertaker. For the first time, January meets the father she has only known through her Duzinski grandparents. What emerges is a deeper, more poignant understanding of the very complex What does love really look like?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
42 people are currently reading
6344 people want to read
About the author
Ka Hancock
5 books339 followersKa was born and raised in Utah in the shadow of the most spectacular mountains on earth. She's spent her career and expertise in the field of mental health. Between raising her family, going to school, working and getting the laundry done, she managed to become a writer. Her work takes an unvarnished look at imperfect people living the randomness of life in flawed circumstances. Her underlying faith in the resiliency of the human spirit shines through in everything she creates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 3, 2023
I was gifted this book by Ms. Hancock herself, and what a spectacular gift it was. Her ability to weave together a story that has so much depth with memorable characters is a special kind of talent. I still remember the characters from ‘Dancing on Broken Glass,’ which was released over ten years ago. I have little doubt Duzy’s cast will also live on in my memory for some time to come. Hopefully we won’t have to wait as long for book #3!
October 11, 2023
What a wonderful book to receive as a giveaway from the author Ka Hancock! It’s a beautiful story about a young woman, January Duzinski who was born amidst a terrible tragedy in which on the night of her birth her father is killed and her mother horribly injured in a car accident on their way to the hospital. We then enter the story with January a young woman. She has been raised by her paternal grandparents who run the Duzinski Funeral Chapel nicknamed by January as the Duzy House of Mourning. She is a mortician in the family business so be prepared to learn a lot about that interesting field of work! The family is Polish and includes her grandparents, and January’s beloved great grandmother, who all live together above the funeral home. January’s mother, Claire who is both physically and mentally scarred, lives in a beautiful assisted living home and their relationship is strained at best. Claire can only speak thru blinking her eyes and some hand motions.
Duzy House of Mourning is a wonderful title. Of course there is mourning by the families of the deceased that the Duzinskis care for, but also for the terrible loss of a beloved son and his permanently scarred wife. January mourns the loss of the father she never knew, and the mother she hardly knows. She mourns what could have been if her family had survived the night of her birth intact. When she is notified she has been gifted a Steinway grand piano that belonged to her mother January begins a journey to discover more about her parents and especially her mother and the maternal grandparents she has only heard about but never met.
The story is beautifully told thru January’s eyes but also thru her mother’s old journals and letters. As January delves deeper into the history of her mother’s dysfunctional family she begins to learn what a strong and exceptional young woman her mother was before her accident and it pushes January to reconsider everything she has ever felt about her mother.
This is a lovely story of love and loss in the midst of personal tragedy but also of the great capacity the heart has to forgive and begin anew.
Duzy House of Mourning is a wonderful title. Of course there is mourning by the families of the deceased that the Duzinskis care for, but also for the terrible loss of a beloved son and his permanently scarred wife. January mourns the loss of the father she never knew, and the mother she hardly knows. She mourns what could have been if her family had survived the night of her birth intact. When she is notified she has been gifted a Steinway grand piano that belonged to her mother January begins a journey to discover more about her parents and especially her mother and the maternal grandparents she has only heard about but never met.
The story is beautifully told thru January’s eyes but also thru her mother’s old journals and letters. As January delves deeper into the history of her mother’s dysfunctional family she begins to learn what a strong and exceptional young woman her mother was before her accident and it pushes January to reconsider everything she has ever felt about her mother.
This is a lovely story of love and loss in the midst of personal tragedy but also of the great capacity the heart has to forgive and begin anew.
October 31, 2023
extraordinary
I have waited a long time for Ka Hancock to publish her second novel, and The Duzy House of Mourning was worth the wait. This is an extraordinary story of great love and unfathomable loss, featuring memorable characters who wedged themselves into my heart. I hope I don’t have to wait as long for the next book, but when it does come I know I will embrace it as well.
I have waited a long time for Ka Hancock to publish her second novel, and The Duzy House of Mourning was worth the wait. This is an extraordinary story of great love and unfathomable loss, featuring memorable characters who wedged themselves into my heart. I hope I don’t have to wait as long for the next book, but when it does come I know I will embrace it as well.
April 25, 2024
The character, context, culture and world building emanating from Ka Hancock's pen makes other authors (like this one) pretty darn jealous.
January 12, 2024
A young woman unearths the heartbreaking truth about her mother’s past. The more January digs, the more she feels a connection with a woman she believed was lost forever. Hancock’s affecting story is about tearing open old wounds, discovering your roots, and the power of forgiveness.
The day January Duzinski was born was not a joyous occasion. Moments after her birth, a terrible accident took the life of her father and severely disabled her mother, robbing her of the opportunity to know her parents. Raised by her paternal grandparents, January led a happy, albeit unconventional life. Death was the family business, and by the time January was a teen, she was helping her grandparents in their mortuary, embalming cadavers.
Beyond her work, she was an excellent piano player (a talent she got from Claire.) January had a strained relationship with Claire, her biological mother, fraught with discomfort and anxiety. Beyond the perfunctory visits to the care center where Claire lived, January had no connection to the mute and mangled shell of a woman. This is, of course, until a lawyer contacts January about the death of her maternal grandmother, who was estranged from Claire. A grand piano and a house full of memories await January as she delves into Claire’s past.
In her mother’s childhood bedroom lay mementos and a journal full of memories that opened Pandora’s box of secrets and allowed January to immerse herself in her mother’s life, a woman she knew so little about.
From the first pages, “The Duzy House of Mourning” by Ka Hancock captivated my attention and yanked my heartstrings with all its might. The writing is driven by a broad spectrum of emotions—vulnerability, and grief, but also an undeniable strength that will inspire readers. This literary gem explores themes of family, coming-of-age, and identity as January Duzinski laments over lost connections and discovers sobering truths that are angering and heartbreaking all at once. Set in Wallington, New Jersey, the absorbing plot follows the Duzinskis as they excel in the business of death while shakily navigating the unpredictability of life.
As a reader, I place quality character development at the top; it is the chef’s kiss of fiction! Ka Hancock skillfully wooed me with the depth of character evolution, and almost instantly, I felt like a part of the Duzinski clan. Between the spunky and wise Babi, the love of Grandy and Poppy, and January’s quiet, introverted nature, readers will fall in love with the diverse personalities. Moreover, January’s deep delve into Claire’s past via her journal entries enables readers to get to know the once-vibrant, witty, and resilient woman and thrust January into deep introspection, prompting existential questions. How would January’s life differ if she’d known her maternal grandmother if the accident hadn’t claimed the life of her father and left her mother Claire brain damaged?
“The Duzy House of Mourning” by Ka Hancock is a fantastic portrayal of a modern family—unconventional, rife with messy secrets, but teeming with love. The sleepy mortuary and quirky characters added another layer of intrigue to the already-engrossing storyline. For readers who love books about identity and self-discovery, this one will top your list!
The day January Duzinski was born was not a joyous occasion. Moments after her birth, a terrible accident took the life of her father and severely disabled her mother, robbing her of the opportunity to know her parents. Raised by her paternal grandparents, January led a happy, albeit unconventional life. Death was the family business, and by the time January was a teen, she was helping her grandparents in their mortuary, embalming cadavers.
Beyond her work, she was an excellent piano player (a talent she got from Claire.) January had a strained relationship with Claire, her biological mother, fraught with discomfort and anxiety. Beyond the perfunctory visits to the care center where Claire lived, January had no connection to the mute and mangled shell of a woman. This is, of course, until a lawyer contacts January about the death of her maternal grandmother, who was estranged from Claire. A grand piano and a house full of memories await January as she delves into Claire’s past.
In her mother’s childhood bedroom lay mementos and a journal full of memories that opened Pandora’s box of secrets and allowed January to immerse herself in her mother’s life, a woman she knew so little about.
From the first pages, “The Duzy House of Mourning” by Ka Hancock captivated my attention and yanked my heartstrings with all its might. The writing is driven by a broad spectrum of emotions—vulnerability, and grief, but also an undeniable strength that will inspire readers. This literary gem explores themes of family, coming-of-age, and identity as January Duzinski laments over lost connections and discovers sobering truths that are angering and heartbreaking all at once. Set in Wallington, New Jersey, the absorbing plot follows the Duzinskis as they excel in the business of death while shakily navigating the unpredictability of life.
As a reader, I place quality character development at the top; it is the chef’s kiss of fiction! Ka Hancock skillfully wooed me with the depth of character evolution, and almost instantly, I felt like a part of the Duzinski clan. Between the spunky and wise Babi, the love of Grandy and Poppy, and January’s quiet, introverted nature, readers will fall in love with the diverse personalities. Moreover, January’s deep delve into Claire’s past via her journal entries enables readers to get to know the once-vibrant, witty, and resilient woman and thrust January into deep introspection, prompting existential questions. How would January’s life differ if she’d known her maternal grandmother if the accident hadn’t claimed the life of her father and left her mother Claire brain damaged?
“The Duzy House of Mourning” by Ka Hancock is a fantastic portrayal of a modern family—unconventional, rife with messy secrets, but teeming with love. The sleepy mortuary and quirky characters added another layer of intrigue to the already-engrossing storyline. For readers who love books about identity and self-discovery, this one will top your list!
November 17, 2024
There is so much to this book but one thing that sticks prominently in my head is the matter of fact way death is handled. The Duzinski family is in the mortuary business and has to separate the emotional from the work to be done. That is not to say that there isn’t feeling, it’s just that Hancock handled it wonderfully.
And there’s so much more to this book than death. The history that shapes us and our familial relationships is a huge part of the story, as is reshaping conceptions as new information emerges about the people we think we know. As January evolves, I found my mindset about some relationships shifting as well.
This is an enjoyable story that got lost after its release.
And there’s so much more to this book than death. The history that shapes us and our familial relationships is a huge part of the story, as is reshaping conceptions as new information emerges about the people we think we know. As January evolves, I found my mindset about some relationships shifting as well.
This is an enjoyable story that got lost after its release.
May 15, 2024
Not for the faint of heart if you don’t want details about how dead bodies are cared for - and restored after trauma. Was a fascinating look at the mortuary business.
This author likes to write about hard topics - especially complicated family relationships. But ultimately this is a story of the power of maternal love and the complicated, flawed and yet enduring bonds between mothers and daughters.
This author likes to write about hard topics - especially complicated family relationships. But ultimately this is a story of the power of maternal love and the complicated, flawed and yet enduring bonds between mothers and daughters.
August 26, 2023
"The Duzy House of Mourning intricately weaves together through a mortician's world an unexpected love story, drawing readers into characters so vividly portrayed that they become confidantes. With a unique style, the author masterfully explores the human experience amidst life's tragedies. Through January’s journey, we encounter vulnerability, resilience, and the profound connections that bloom even in the face of grief. This well written novel is a poignant ode to life's intricate dance between sorrow and joy, beautifully capturing the essence of human existence."
September 30, 2023
A precious pearl to savor
The book opens with a horrific accident that turned my sensitive stomach and
almost made me want to stop reading. Thankfully the scene is short. I'm so
glad I kept going because this is a mesmerizing story. January Duzinski is a
mortician who loves her job-the art of revering the dead. She works for the
family mortuary run by her grandparents and lives with them and Babka, her
Polish great-grandmother. January's father died in the accident, which left
her mother, Claire, severely disfigured, a mother January barely knows and
hasn't wanted to know. Then Claire's mother, Rose, dies and leaves a
Steinway piano up for grabs, and January suddenly begins a journey of
exploration into the lives of her unknown grandparents and her mother.
There are some shocking and grotesque moments where you venture into the
embalming process or Babka tells January about the atrocities that occurred
during the war. But every moment, even the hard-to-handle ones, is delivered
with honesty and tenderness. Each character-and there are a number of
important ones-stands out from the rest in personality, dress, stature, and
strength. January's grandparents, Babka, her best friend Jaz, Claire, Rose's
attorney, the man January starts to fall for all make up a wonderfully
interactive community that deals with the reality of life with huge amounts
of heart and compassion. And January's journey into understanding her mother
and other grandparents is a wonder to behold. There is doubt and
trepidation, the examination of closely-held memories, and a beautiful
unfolding of astounding events and realizations that constantly had my heart
swelling and my eyes welling. The straightforward prose is handled with such
precision that I couldn't help but feel January's pain and love.
To say I loved this book is an understatement. The Duzy House of Mourning is
a precious pearl, a story to relish, to savor, to consume with care. This is
Ka Hancock's second novel. If you haven't read her first book Dancing on
Broken Glass, please do. It's remarkable as well.
The book opens with a horrific accident that turned my sensitive stomach and
almost made me want to stop reading. Thankfully the scene is short. I'm so
glad I kept going because this is a mesmerizing story. January Duzinski is a
mortician who loves her job-the art of revering the dead. She works for the
family mortuary run by her grandparents and lives with them and Babka, her
Polish great-grandmother. January's father died in the accident, which left
her mother, Claire, severely disfigured, a mother January barely knows and
hasn't wanted to know. Then Claire's mother, Rose, dies and leaves a
Steinway piano up for grabs, and January suddenly begins a journey of
exploration into the lives of her unknown grandparents and her mother.
There are some shocking and grotesque moments where you venture into the
embalming process or Babka tells January about the atrocities that occurred
during the war. But every moment, even the hard-to-handle ones, is delivered
with honesty and tenderness. Each character-and there are a number of
important ones-stands out from the rest in personality, dress, stature, and
strength. January's grandparents, Babka, her best friend Jaz, Claire, Rose's
attorney, the man January starts to fall for all make up a wonderfully
interactive community that deals with the reality of life with huge amounts
of heart and compassion. And January's journey into understanding her mother
and other grandparents is a wonder to behold. There is doubt and
trepidation, the examination of closely-held memories, and a beautiful
unfolding of astounding events and realizations that constantly had my heart
swelling and my eyes welling. The straightforward prose is handled with such
precision that I couldn't help but feel January's pain and love.
To say I loved this book is an understatement. The Duzy House of Mourning is
a precious pearl, a story to relish, to savor, to consume with care. This is
Ka Hancock's second novel. If you haven't read her first book Dancing on
Broken Glass, please do. It's remarkable as well.
January 21, 2024
Ka Hancock has become one of the authors I will read anytime she publishes anything. What a storyteller. Her Dancing on Broken Glass about broke me, this one was almost as emotional. One small quibble, AAC devices exist.
July 14, 2024
Sappy beautiful good story. Who would have thought I could find a book that is primarily set in a funeral home so good.
I also found this book on Goodbookfairy’s Facebook page when she asks her fans to share what they are reading each Tuesday.
I also found this book on Goodbookfairy’s Facebook page when she asks her fans to share what they are reading each Tuesday.
November 6, 2024
I have to say that the first book I read by this author was “Dancing On Broken Glass”, which I loved! I was so looking forward to this new book, but I was very disappointed. It was really slow (definitely not a page turner), extremely melodramatic, with lots of repetition. None of the characters
June 15, 2024
Sweet story but so repetitive.
January 1, 2024
When January Duzinski finds out who her mother was before the accident that changed their lives forever, will she continue to turn the other cheek, or find a way to forge a new relationship with the woman who birthed her? While The Duzy House of Mourning is narrated by a young mortician who deals with the dead on the daily, it is a story full of life that brings to light the fullness of the human experience.
January Duzinski spends her days at the Duzinski Funeral Chapel, a mortuary run by her beloved grandparents who raised her. Following in her father’s footsteps, January tends to the dead and helps their loved ones grapple with grief, simultaneously avoiding her feelings about losses of her own. The night January was born, a car accident on the way to the hospital killed her father, Tanek, and left her mother, Claire, with life-changing injuries. From a young age, January has avoided a relationship with Claire.
When January finds out that Claire’s mother, the grandmother January never met, has passed away, circumstances unfold that invite her into Claire’s life before the accident. Though raised within the confines of elitist conflict and power, Claire became an independent and accomplished woman determined to break free from her parents' rigid demands. She soon fell in love with Tanek, only to have their story cut short. Twenty-two years later, January begins to learn more about her parents through the journals her mother kept as a young woman and starts putting the pieces of her family back together. At the same time, she must determine her feelings about another unexpected and blossoming relationship.
Hancock’s characters are sweet, realistic, and relatable, expressions of their life stories convincing. Difficult topics such as the Holocaust, disability, family dynamics, and death are thoughtfully woven into the Duzinski family's story, allowing readers a grounded place from which to explore loss, survival, and hope.
As January’s father once told her mother, “There is more to death than death”, a sentiment beautifully illustrated by the deeper understanding of familial bonds to which January begins to awaken. A coming-of-age narrative that covers the universal life experiences of love, grief, and new beginnings, Ka Hancock delivers a resounding testimony of connection, struggle, and strength that you won’t soon forget.
January Duzinski spends her days at the Duzinski Funeral Chapel, a mortuary run by her beloved grandparents who raised her. Following in her father’s footsteps, January tends to the dead and helps their loved ones grapple with grief, simultaneously avoiding her feelings about losses of her own. The night January was born, a car accident on the way to the hospital killed her father, Tanek, and left her mother, Claire, with life-changing injuries. From a young age, January has avoided a relationship with Claire.
When January finds out that Claire’s mother, the grandmother January never met, has passed away, circumstances unfold that invite her into Claire’s life before the accident. Though raised within the confines of elitist conflict and power, Claire became an independent and accomplished woman determined to break free from her parents' rigid demands. She soon fell in love with Tanek, only to have their story cut short. Twenty-two years later, January begins to learn more about her parents through the journals her mother kept as a young woman and starts putting the pieces of her family back together. At the same time, she must determine her feelings about another unexpected and blossoming relationship.
Hancock’s characters are sweet, realistic, and relatable, expressions of their life stories convincing. Difficult topics such as the Holocaust, disability, family dynamics, and death are thoughtfully woven into the Duzinski family's story, allowing readers a grounded place from which to explore loss, survival, and hope.
As January’s father once told her mother, “There is more to death than death”, a sentiment beautifully illustrated by the deeper understanding of familial bonds to which January begins to awaken. A coming-of-age narrative that covers the universal life experiences of love, grief, and new beginnings, Ka Hancock delivers a resounding testimony of connection, struggle, and strength that you won’t soon forget.
July 2, 2025
Ka Hancock has written something rare and luminous in The Duzy House of Mourning. From the first page, I found myself emotionally tethered to January Duzinski, a young embalmer who has built her life in the shadows of both death and silence. The story unfolds like a haunting melody: subtle, layered, and deeply resonant.
What touched me the most was how Hancock captured the ache of not knowing a parent, not because they left, but because fate stole them away too early. January’s journey through grief, anger, discovery, and ultimately, compassion was profound and honest. Reading Claire’s diaries felt like eavesdropping on a soul: Claire, once brilliant and vibrant, now silenced by a traumatic brain injury, speaks volumes through her words from the past.
The relationship between January and the dead is almost more intimate than those with the living, which is a quietly devastating commentary on how trauma shapes human connection. And yet, amidst all the sadness, Hancock offers so much hope. Oscar’s presence and the Steinway piano become unlikely conduits for healing and reckoning.
If you love character-driven novels that explore identity, generational trauma, and the long echoes of love, this book is for you. Hancock doesn't just tell a story, she gives voice to the spaces grief leaves behind. I will carry these characters with me for a long time.
What touched me the most was how Hancock captured the ache of not knowing a parent, not because they left, but because fate stole them away too early. January’s journey through grief, anger, discovery, and ultimately, compassion was profound and honest. Reading Claire’s diaries felt like eavesdropping on a soul: Claire, once brilliant and vibrant, now silenced by a traumatic brain injury, speaks volumes through her words from the past.
The relationship between January and the dead is almost more intimate than those with the living, which is a quietly devastating commentary on how trauma shapes human connection. And yet, amidst all the sadness, Hancock offers so much hope. Oscar’s presence and the Steinway piano become unlikely conduits for healing and reckoning.
If you love character-driven novels that explore identity, generational trauma, and the long echoes of love, this book is for you. Hancock doesn't just tell a story, she gives voice to the spaces grief leaves behind. I will carry these characters with me for a long time.
June 24, 2025
Ka Hancock’s The Duzy House of Mourning is a breathtaking tapestry woven from grief, memory, and enduring love. Rarely have I read a novel that so profoundly explores the emotional fallout of trauma and the resilience of the human spirit. January’s story begins in tragedy, yet what unfolds is a deeply touching journey through the forgotten corners of family history. Hancock doesn’t flinch away from pain, yet she gives it purpose every chapter is a step toward healing, toward reconnection.
What truly stayed with me is the quiet strength of the characters especially January and her mother Claire. The way Hancock contrasts Claire’s past vitality with her present silence is haunting, and yet she gives her voice back through her journals. The piano becomes a metaphor not just for inherited talent, but for reclaiming identity. This novel is more than a story, it’s a symphony of heartbreak and redemption. A must-read for anyone who loves layered characters and emotionally intelligent storytelling.
What truly stayed with me is the quiet strength of the characters especially January and her mother Claire. The way Hancock contrasts Claire’s past vitality with her present silence is haunting, and yet she gives her voice back through her journals. The piano becomes a metaphor not just for inherited talent, but for reclaiming identity. This novel is more than a story, it’s a symphony of heartbreak and redemption. A must-read for anyone who loves layered characters and emotionally intelligent storytelling.
November 21, 2023
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. VERY ENTERTAINING. It is a heartbreaking story of discovering a family that although aware of these family members, you never really knew or cared enough about to want to know them.
I feel that this book would be much better be appreciated by a woman than a man, although I found it a very touching story that keeps you reading to find out the rest of the story. Once interested in any of the characters you are hooked into the complicated story of January Duzinski and her family of undertakers.
Warning: It is at 3 different points in the book , a tear jerker. There are a number of sad and heart wrenching situations in the storyline that will flat out break your heart, but that will only hook you deeper into the book. It is a quick and easy read and Ka Hancock's writing style had me from page 1. Get a copy of this one. It is well worth the money. 4.5 stars out of 5 for THE DUZY HOUSE OF MOURNING.
I feel that this book would be much better be appreciated by a woman than a man, although I found it a very touching story that keeps you reading to find out the rest of the story. Once interested in any of the characters you are hooked into the complicated story of January Duzinski and her family of undertakers.
Warning: It is at 3 different points in the book , a tear jerker. There are a number of sad and heart wrenching situations in the storyline that will flat out break your heart, but that will only hook you deeper into the book. It is a quick and easy read and Ka Hancock's writing style had me from page 1. Get a copy of this one. It is well worth the money. 4.5 stars out of 5 for THE DUZY HOUSE OF MOURNING.
June 24, 2025
This book took my breath away. The Duzy House of Mourning is not only emotionally resonant, but also elegantly written, with prose that sings like the notes from January’s piano. Ka Hancock has created something rare here: a narrative that honors both the pain and the beauty of inheritance not just of genes, but of trauma, art, and love.
January is one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve encountered. Her quiet strength and emotional vulnerability make her incredibly relatable, even though her life is anything but ordinary. I especially appreciated the rich emotional arc that takes her from guarded to open-hearted as she uncovers the life her mother once lived. Hancock’s portrayal of grief is respectful, nuanced, and deeply human. This novel will stay with me for a long time, and I’ll be recommending it to every reader I know who seeks depth and emotional authenticity in their fiction.
January is one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve encountered. Her quiet strength and emotional vulnerability make her incredibly relatable, even though her life is anything but ordinary. I especially appreciated the rich emotional arc that takes her from guarded to open-hearted as she uncovers the life her mother once lived. Hancock’s portrayal of grief is respectful, nuanced, and deeply human. This novel will stay with me for a long time, and I’ll be recommending it to every reader I know who seeks depth and emotional authenticity in their fiction.
June 25, 2025
What begins as a seemingly quiet story about a young woman working in a funeral home quickly becomes one of the most layered and emotionally resonant journeys I’ve read in a long time. January Duzinski is a heroine of quiet strength deeply scarred, deeply intelligent, and not entirely aware of how much she needs to understand the past to move forward.
Claire’s diaries were the beating heart of this novel. They introduced us to a fierce, fearless woman whose choices though misunderstood were deeply rooted in love and pain. And through them, we watch January slowly stitch together a version of her mother (and herself) that was previously unreachable. The prose is gorgeous, and the emotional payoff is enormous. This book explores identity, grief, inheritance, and music in a way that’s deeply literary but also accessible. I’ll be recommending this to everyone I know who appreciates emotionally rich storytelling.
Claire’s diaries were the beating heart of this novel. They introduced us to a fierce, fearless woman whose choices though misunderstood were deeply rooted in love and pain. And through them, we watch January slowly stitch together a version of her mother (and herself) that was previously unreachable. The prose is gorgeous, and the emotional payoff is enormous. This book explores identity, grief, inheritance, and music in a way that’s deeply literary but also accessible. I’ll be recommending this to everyone I know who appreciates emotionally rich storytelling.
June 24, 2025
Reading The Duzy House of Mourning is like stepping into a silent, candle-lit chapel sacred, introspective, and full of echoes. Ka Hancock has done something truly extraordinary here: she has turned silence into music, trauma into transformation, and mourning into meaning. January’s voice is sharp, observant, and achingly honest. Her job as an embalmer adds an unusual and moving layer to the themes of mortality, legacy, and acceptance.
The inclusion of Claire’s diaries adds a dual narrative that is both heartbreaking and illuminating. As January pieces together the story of the woman her mother used to be, we as readers are gifted with one of the most honest explorations of womanhood and mother-daughter connection I’ve seen in contemporary fiction. Hancock reminds us that the past never truly leaves us, it becomes part of our breath, our art, our love. Simply extraordinary.
The inclusion of Claire’s diaries adds a dual narrative that is both heartbreaking and illuminating. As January pieces together the story of the woman her mother used to be, we as readers are gifted with one of the most honest explorations of womanhood and mother-daughter connection I’ve seen in contemporary fiction. Hancock reminds us that the past never truly leaves us, it becomes part of our breath, our art, our love. Simply extraordinary.
June 25, 2025
Ka Hancock has crafted something truly special with The Duzy House of Mourning. From the first page, I was pulled into January’s world, a world where death is familiar, but love is elusive. Raised among the embalming tables of her grandparents' funeral home, January is someone who finds more comfort with the dead than the living. Yet, this is not a dark story, it’s a story about quiet transformation and the slow, painful emergence into one’s truth.
What hit me hardest were the moments January spent reading her mother’s diaries. Through them, she finally comes to understand the depth of her parents' love and the tragic beauty of the life they tried to build. The writing is poetic without being overdone, and the emotional arc is slow-building and devastating in the best way. I cried, I reflected, and I closed the book feeling both broken and healed. A stunning, unforgettable read.
What hit me hardest were the moments January spent reading her mother’s diaries. Through them, she finally comes to understand the depth of her parents' love and the tragic beauty of the life they tried to build. The writing is poetic without being overdone, and the emotional arc is slow-building and devastating in the best way. I cried, I reflected, and I closed the book feeling both broken and healed. A stunning, unforgettable read.
June 25, 2025
This book is about love but not the kind you see in movies or wrapped in neat bows. It’s about the kind of love that survives tragedy, that makes impossible choices, that leaves scars. Through January’s reluctant journey into her mother's past, we’re asked to consider what love really looks like between a couple, between generations, and between the living and the dead.
Claire’s character, revealed slowly through diary entries, absolutely captivated me. She was rebellious, brilliant, flawed, and utterly human. The love story between her and January’s father was equal parts tender and tragic. I was amazed by how Hancock was able to make me feel the emotional distance and longing in every chapter. This is a book that doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead sits with you and gently asks you to feel. One of the most emotionally intelligent novels I’ve read in years.
Claire’s character, revealed slowly through diary entries, absolutely captivated me. She was rebellious, brilliant, flawed, and utterly human. The love story between her and January’s father was equal parts tender and tragic. I was amazed by how Hancock was able to make me feel the emotional distance and longing in every chapter. This is a book that doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead sits with you and gently asks you to feel. One of the most emotionally intelligent novels I’ve read in years.
October 5, 2023
Wonderful deserves 10 stars
This is not my normal genre but something about the blurb drew me in, so I purchased the book. I am so very glad I did. The night January was born, her parents got into a horrific automobile accident. Her father lost his life in the accident and her mother should have also but she stayed alive to deliver January. But Claire, January 's mother, was tragically injured in the accident. January was raised by her father's parents. The story is about a young woman who has learned who her maternal grandparents and her parents were. Because of this, we the reader, are pulled in to witness the delightful, heartwarming and poignant story of a mother and daughter's love of the piano and each other. Don't forget the tissues.
This is not my normal genre but something about the blurb drew me in, so I purchased the book. I am so very glad I did. The night January was born, her parents got into a horrific automobile accident. Her father lost his life in the accident and her mother should have also but she stayed alive to deliver January. But Claire, January 's mother, was tragically injured in the accident. January was raised by her father's parents. The story is about a young woman who has learned who her maternal grandparents and her parents were. Because of this, we the reader, are pulled in to witness the delightful, heartwarming and poignant story of a mother and daughter's love of the piano and each other. Don't forget the tissues.
June 25, 2025
I came into this book not knowing what to expect, and left completely moved. The Duzy House of Mourning doesn’t shout, it whispers, and those whispers carry powerful truths. January is one of those characters who slowly gets under your skin. She's emotionally reserved, fiercely intelligent, and profoundly shaped by loss and silence.
What struck me most was how the book treats generational trauma not with melodrama, but with compassion and grace. The narrative structure, bouncing between the present and Claire’s past through journal entries, adds layers of discovery. This isn’t just a novel about mourning; it’s about reclaiming identity and confronting the pieces of ourselves we never asked to inherit. Thoughtful, haunting, and beautifully done.
What struck me most was how the book treats generational trauma not with melodrama, but with compassion and grace. The narrative structure, bouncing between the present and Claire’s past through journal entries, adds layers of discovery. This isn’t just a novel about mourning; it’s about reclaiming identity and confronting the pieces of ourselves we never asked to inherit. Thoughtful, haunting, and beautifully done.
October 14, 2023
I just finished this book and absolutely loved it! Ka Hancock's first book, Dancing on Broken Glass, has always been one of my favorites.
This book is different than her first novel, but just as beautiful. The characters are so real. There is brokenness in the characters, but there is also so much love. I loved the journal entries throughout the book - they added so much to the story. I loved that this book has love, regret, shame, hurt, courage, strength. It was so easy to follow along the journey of January Duzinski.
This book is different than her first novel, but just as beautiful. The characters are so real. There is brokenness in the characters, but there is also so much love. I loved the journal entries throughout the book - they added so much to the story. I loved that this book has love, regret, shame, hurt, courage, strength. It was so easy to follow along the journey of January Duzinski.
December 20, 2023
January Duzinski lives - quite literally- in the world of the dead. The night she was born her parents were in a car accident that killed her father and severely injured her mother. She lives upstairs from the funeral parlor where she works. Her life begins to change when she finds out her grandmother, whom she never met, dies.
Author Ka Hancock explores the intersection of life and death in her fiction. Themes include: What kind of new life comes as a result of a death? How does one resurrect a dead relationship? When is it too late to reconcile?
This is a beautiful, heartwarming story!
Author Ka Hancock explores the intersection of life and death in her fiction. Themes include: What kind of new life comes as a result of a death? How does one resurrect a dead relationship? When is it too late to reconcile?
This is a beautiful, heartwarming story!
October 2, 2023
Beautiful love story
This is a love story and mystery--'Cookie' has spent her life with a mother she can't know and a father she never knew. When her grandmother dies, she suddenly has access to all this information about who her parents were, and why her mother and grandparents disowned each other. That is the mystery--the human heart. And the love is at it's purest--a mother's love for her daughter, and her daughter's discovery of it. I cried many times. A beautiful story!
This is a love story and mystery--'Cookie' has spent her life with a mother she can't know and a father she never knew. When her grandmother dies, she suddenly has access to all this information about who her parents were, and why her mother and grandparents disowned each other. That is the mystery--the human heart. And the love is at it's purest--a mother's love for her daughter, and her daughter's discovery of it. I cried many times. A beautiful story!
September 21, 2023
Ka Hancock has a beautiful gift for writing intimately sad and beautifully wholesome stories about interesting people.
And although The Duzy House of Mourning didn't quite pierce my heart as much as her debut novel Dancing On Broken Glass did, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful tale of overwhelming love, resilience and forgiveness.
And although The Duzy House of Mourning didn't quite pierce my heart as much as her debut novel Dancing On Broken Glass did, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful tale of overwhelming love, resilience and forgiveness.
September 21, 2023
Enjoyed reading this book
This book was so interesting. Regardless of the mortuary terms, the whole book is worth reading. It relates to the fact that we sometimes don't have the complete picture of how our whole life would change if we knew unknown events that happen without our knowledge. The characters are warm and easy to relate to.
This book was so interesting. Regardless of the mortuary terms, the whole book is worth reading. It relates to the fact that we sometimes don't have the complete picture of how our whole life would change if we knew unknown events that happen without our knowledge. The characters are warm and easy to relate to.
September 24, 2023
Beautifully written!
I read Ka’s book Dancing on Broken Glass 10+ years ago, it was a fast favorite and I chose it for my book club and she called in! When I saw she had written another book I had to read it and again she knocks it out of the park, so beautifully written, I loved this story and did not want it to end!
I read Ka’s book Dancing on Broken Glass 10+ years ago, it was a fast favorite and I chose it for my book club and she called in! When I saw she had written another book I had to read it and again she knocks it out of the park, so beautifully written, I loved this story and did not want it to end!
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